Boundary Consultation Highlights Funding Farce
8th November 2016
Principal Simon Holmes has joined the debate on proposed electoral boundary changes, saying the proposals for a new cross-border constituency highlight the inequality of the school funding system.
Under the proposals being considered by The Boundary Commission, tMelbourn and Bassingbourn village colleges and a number of Cambs' primaries will be in the new constituency alongside Hertfordshire schools, which are funded at a different level.
Hertfordshire currently receives an additional £130 per student compared to Cambridgeshire, a figure which amounts to around £65,000 per year for Melbourn Village College and Mr Holmes asks: “How could one MP successfully represent schools receiving such different funding? How could they accurately represent our position and campaign on our behalf?”
While funding inequalities haven’t prevented Melbourn being very successful, with a Progress 8 score of 0.45, concern remains about the position moving forwards.
“Pupils here did half a grade per GCSE better than students nationally, placing us just outside the top 10% of schools in the country,” said r Holmes.” This is despite us receiving nearly £500 less per pupil than the average national funding.
“Just imagine what we could do with an additional £200,000. If this inequality continues, there will inevitably be an impact, despite our best efforts. It can’t be fair on children in Cambridgeshire.”
Mr Holmes is also worried that the move would put strains on other relationships.
“Schools in Cambridgeshire, particularly South Cambridgeshire, have a strong history of working together for the benefit of all our pupils and Melbourn is part of The Cam Academy Trust, which includes Comberton and Cambourne Village Colleges as well as Gamlingay First School.
“Changing constituency would put a strain on these and other relationships which are based within local authorities. One MP would find themselves working with two County Councils, a clear increase in workload and a recipe for confusion and delay.”
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